Game 27: Indians 5, Tigers 4
by Ryan on May 1, 2011 5:13 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintThe Indians finished off a series sweep of the Tigers the same way they won the first two games: with outstanding relief pitching and late-inning heroics. It's not a method of winning that you want to rely on, but it's encouraging that the team is winning the nail-biters in addition to the more conventional contests.
Detroit scored two runs off Justin Masterson in the first inning; Masterson looked really shaky at this point, throwing a lot of pitches to get through the first inning, and facing an even bigger jam in the second. But after Justin got out of the second inning with a 5-4-3 double play with the bases loaded, he settled down, pitching into the eighth inning.
Like the other two contests, the Indians and Tigers were tied for most of the game. The Indians would tie the contest in the second on Matt LaPorta's opposite-field double. The double was an impressive piece of hitting; LaPorta "flicked" the ball to the right field wall with just his arms. Hits like that give you hope that LaPorta still has room for development.
Manny Acta stuck with Masterson longer than he usually would have because the bullpen had been used so much in the weekend's first two games. He started the eighth inning having thrown over 110 pitches, and when he allowed the first two to reach, Acta pulled him. Rafael Perez, who had thrown two innings last night, was summoned to quell the rally, but allowed the Tigers to take the lead on a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers' bullpen had also been used extensively in the series, but both the eighth and ninth inning pitchers had at least one days' rest. That eighth inning pitcher, though, was Joaquin Benoit, who had given up the grand slam to Carlos Santana on Friday night. Benoit would retire Santana this time, but all the other batters in the inning either reached or drove in a run. Choo reached on a sharp single, went to second when Shelley Duncan was hit by a pitch, and scored on Orlando Cabrera's single in a nifty piece of base running. Brandon Inge got a piece of Cabrera's hard grounder, but the ball trickled into the outfield as Choo rounded third. The ball reach home plate just about when Choo did, but he kicked out Alex Avila's leg with his feet-first slide to get access to the plate. Shelley Duncan flopped onto home plate for an important insurance run after Michael Brantley served a single over the shortstop.
Chris Perez was called on to pitch in his third straight game, and wasn't as effective as he'd been on Friday or Saturday. He allowed two runners to reach, which allowed Miguel Cabrera to come to the plate representing the go-ahead run. He singled, driving in a run, but I think the Indians were fine with that result. Perez retired Brennan Boesch to complete the sweep.
When the week started, the Tigers were 1.5 games behind the Indians. The week ended with the Indians ahead of Detroit 7.5 games, a six-game swing. The Tigers will have five months to make up those six games, including a lot of head-to-head matchups later in the summer, but even so, that's a huge standings change regardless of when it occurred. The other putative AL Central contenders, Minnesota and Chicago, are now 10 games back.
| Highest WPA | Lowest WPA | ||
| Granpabrera | .287 | Sizemore | -.196 |
| LaPorta | .280 | Santana | -.105 |
| Brantley | .239 | Rafael Perez | -.081 |
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Folks, think back to April 2. Could you imagine first place? Could you imagine 19-8? Could you imagine the highest run differential in baseball? Maybe it was that triple play the next day that forever changed the course of this season. Whatever it was, this team is absolutely for real.
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
by Turkmenbashi on May 1, 2011 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Think back to the shortened series against the Twins. This forum was filled with doom and gloom. I think this home stand proved that this team can bounce back from a bad weekend.
I wouldn’t say it was doom and gloom. It was mostly frustration that the team was getting beaten by [redacted] Twins Baseball.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
I think the most important thing for me in this series was Cleveland coming from behind every game to win it. During the eight—game winning streak it seemed like they played with the lead every time. Here they’ve scraped and clawed back into all three games.
They’re creating a culture where these types of wins aren’t a nice stroke of luck, but rather, they are now to be expected.
Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute
I’m shocked at how well Baltimore, KC, and Seattle are doing against teams not named Indians. Victories over those teams were the ostensible reason for tempered enthusiasm about the Tribes early success.
by haymister on May 1, 2011 5:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Joe Sheehan just wrote about this idea.
Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute
I am less and less surprised by KC everyday. They have been playing pretty scrappy great baseball.
by APV on May 1, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m taking credit for noting KC’s potential improvement a year ago. If they flop later this season feel free to bust my balls about it.
Our best players wear suits.
Looking forward to it.
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on May 1, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
BTW Jay, Kila’s not the Kama Aina from Maui on the Royals it’s Kanekoa Texeira.
Our best players wear suits.
Yep, I’m a Jeff Francoeur fan. And dispite Jay’s best efforts I’m no big Kila backer – I just the Royals are gonna be our rivals in the ALC for years to come.
Our best players wear suits.
For argument’s sake, even if these teams were really terrible, still… A good team needs to beat those bad teams just as much as a mediocre team needs to beat them. We didn’t handle very many bad teams with ease last season from what I remember.
In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).
by V-Mart Shopper on May 1, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Graffiti Burger update: got it today for the first time. The shakes are effing amazing. One of the best I’ve ever had. Burger was pretty good. I got the one that’s dipped in buffalo sauce with blue cheese on it. Pretty tasty. Fries were pretty sub-par. I’m definitely going back for the shakes and probably a burger here or there. Oh, and Go Tribe.
I am declaring this an impromptu minor league game thread for the Captains game that starts at 6. Sometimes you can’t have too much baseball.
I can’t wait for, after another 20 or so games… AP game recaps stop using the word “surprising” and start using the word “juggernaut”
I love watching this team, but I think it’s important to retain a little cautious skepticism. The season is very long. At the very least, I do think we can go toe-to-toe with any of our AL Central rivals.
by jhon on May 1, 2011 6:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
To recap today’s early minor league action:
Ezequiel Carrera continues to get on base in Columbus. Donald had a great start today (3-4 with a double and a walk). Kipnis had a nice game (2-4, 2B, BB). Huff still isn’t getting strikeouts, but has been effective and continues to battle with McAllister as the next in line after Gomez. Herrmann, in his return to AAA, dominated (2 perfect innings with 5 Ks).
Akron dominated Binghampton (10-1). Jordan Henry, like Carrera, also continues to get on base and then steal them. Chen was the big offensive star (3-3, 2 HRs, 2 BBs). Austin Adams (7IP, 1R, 3BB, 8K), Hagadone, and Burns shutdown Binghampton.
Pomeranz only allowed one unearned run for Kinston, while striking out 7 and walking 2 in 5.1 IP. Preston Guilmet, like Burns in Akron, continues to be a sneakily impressive closer (ERA = 0.00). Abner Abreu hit a HR (2) and stole 2 bases (6). He still has massive plate discipline problems, but he is making a considerable comeback from his 2010 campaign.
Also, waves of arms…
Twitter favorite, Cole M Cook, starting for the Captains.
And Carlos Moncrief leads off the game with a solo HR (4).
Moncrief’s OPS up near .900 with 16 RBIs from the leadoff spot.
by APV on May 1, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
For the first time in several years, LC’s offense is actually loaded with pseudo-interesting guys; Moncrief, Cannon (.382 BA), Urshela, Aguilar, Lavisky, Bartolone…
Forgot about that guy. It’s also easy to forget that we have Hector Rondon and Alex Perez on the DL, too.
by APV on May 1, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s Shanetti’s #1 problem. If they lead the division and lose money, it’ll be hard to convince Dolan to pick up that RH bat or LOOGY in July.
Our best players wear suits.
The Indians are certainly winning in the right way to attract fans.
by APV on May 1, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
What I’m more worried about is the general state of Cleveland. If they can’t get behind these guys now they may never get behind any baseball team ever again.
Our best players wear suits.
I agree, but the Browns at least testify to the fact that the fans, baseball or not, and the money are there.
by APV on May 1, 2011 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
But $10 bleacher seats also aren’t the same as $120 Browns tickets
by APV on May 2, 2011 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Very true, although the other expenses of going to a game would be similar.
by Jay on May 2, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Or the bail bonds.
Our best players wear suits.
by mauichuck on May 2, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
If you check the PD Sports section you’ll note that the Browns are getting at least as much ink as the Indians – and this despite the fact that the Tribe has the best record in all of baseball, the Browns the 6th worst record in the NFL, and the Browns haven’t played a game in over 4 months. I just don’t understand this.
Our best players wear suits.
by mauichuck on May 2, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
It’s called the NFL draft.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
by notthatnoise on May 2, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
And that’s more noteworthy than actual games? I’m sorry but the draft is a sideshow. The amount of attention it garners speaks to the herd mentality of the average NFL fan.
Our best players wear suits.
by mauichuck on May 2, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs
God, you are so right on. Completely agree.
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
by Turkmenbashi on May 2, 2011 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Like it or not, it gets huge attention. I wasn’t saying whether it was good or bad, but it is pretty clearly the reason the Browns were getting so much space in the paper. The draft is also a vital part of building an NFL team, much more so than in baseball.
"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools" -Hemingway
“It gets huge attention” is not an explanation of why “it gets huge attention.”
by Jay on May 2, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
I moved back to Cleveland from NYC in September 2005. Everyone in town knew the Browns were going to absolutely blow and the Indians were making a run at the chokesox. Having not lived here in 20+ years I was floored at the disproportionate level of play that the Browns were getting vs. the Indians.
I will allow that the impact of the NFL Draft is greater (in terms of immediacy to events on the field) than the MLB Draft. So, it is a big ‘to-do’ in the offseason.
But it’s not equal to the impact of actual MLB games.
by Jay on May 2, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Not trying to be argumentative, but this point could be debated. On some teams the 1st round -3rd round players could be playing immediately, if so they could easily make the difference in a game or two of the NFL season. Since 2 NFL games = 20 MLB games… well, it could be argued that’s all. I don’t get into the draft myself, because I don’t watch NCAA football.
Agree 100%. That’s what drives me nuts about the NFL in general.
My watch is broken... it's stuck on Tribe Time
#suckitLaw
by Turkmenbashi on May 2, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I got a call from a landlord of a building that I put a tenant in to two years ago. I let it go in to voicemail figuring that if there was a problem, I’d prefer to hear about it before I talk to him directly. The guy called me out of the blue after two years because he wanted to talk about the freaking Indians!
Duncanstein flopped in the go ahead run. Grandpabrera scored the insurance run on LaPorta’ s sac fly.
Duncanstein’s flop was a highlight of that game. He came barreling toward home plate looking to flatten a Tiger, and appeared to be sorely disappointed that a target for his Blonde Rage was lacking.
"I’ll happily embrace elevated hopes if that is the price to pay." - APV
On Twitter at @grantgw - sports and Cleveland and Columbus stuff
by woodsmeister on May 2, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Warning to all MLB teams. Do not come to Cleveland on a losing streak. We will bury you.
by kedda13 on May 1, 2011 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Just glanded at the Featured Stories titles and saw “Too Soon the Victor Martinez Era Ends” and was thinking, “considering what we got for him, thank God we unloaded that stiff when we did”.
Our best players wear suits.
How dare you refer to vmart as a stiff! Blasphemy!
by citrusvanilla on May 1, 2011 7:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The twins’ run differential is 28 runs worse than the second worse team. The second worse team? The white sox.
Should be good enough for second in the AL central.
by supersizeme on May 1, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
More positive signs from LaPorta. Once he realizes he doesn’t need to hammer every pitch he swings at, he can be very dangerous. He has big power, he just needs to get the barrel on the ball. He’s so aggressive he may never have a great OBP, but he definitely has the ability to slug over .500.
The oppo double was pretty cool today – hit the base of the wall with basically just a quick wrist flip on an outside pitch.
I think he already has more extra-base hits to the opposite field than he had all of last season
by APV on May 1, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It is, but the only hitter on the team that swings at more pitches out of the zone is Orlando Cabrera, and just barely. Now maybe when he gets ahead in the account he becomes much more selective and that leads to walks…guess we’ll see if he can keep the walk rate up while still being aggressive in certain counts.
I Love This Team!!!!
Sadly I missed most of this weekened due to flights, etc …. but let’s hope May continues the good times. The schedule is a bit tougher, but I think they way they are playing, we should do fine. 18-8? not likely (but hopeful) … but a .500+ record would be a great sign!
15-11 will work.
"I want to be playing at the end of October or the end of September -- not just at the beginning of April." —Grady
by westbrook on May 2, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Indians are doing so well they may have led to the death of OBL… Who knows, if we keep winning maybe we’ll cure cancer, too.
Now we know why Pronk has been out most of the past week…
Professional Lurker. Non-Baseball Posting Specialist.
by fingolfin on May 2, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
I don’t know – I just want to keep it coming as long and as often as it can.
I just want to believe.
Forgive my ignorance, but what’s the best source for team BABIP data? And how have the Indians fared so far this season vs. historical averages?
by Seattle Tribe Fan on May 2, 2011 12:41 PM EDT reply actions
Fangraphs has team leaderboards here. The Indians .309 team BABIP is currently a 3-way tie for 4th in the league. The Indians have gotten huge numbers out of bench players, Sizemore and Hafner, and aside from Santana (.185!), have almost no one well below league norms.
Ah…thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for. Talk about hitting them where they ain’t!
by Seattle Tribe Fan on May 2, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
The Indians .309 is high, but not exceptionally so. A .280-.300 number is pretty normal. The Cardinals (.333) and Astros (.328) have exceptionally high numbers.
While poking around for the BABIP before posting I ended up at MLB.com on the sortable team stats page. The Cards in particular are, ahem, performing rather well so far, #1 in runs, hits, TB, OBP, and AVG.
by Seattle Tribe Fan on May 2, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Luck is obviously a factor in BABIP, but just don’t take it too far. For instance, Santana’s BABIP is not .185 because he’s unlucky…it’s because he’s hit a ton of ground balls and has by far the lowest line drive rate on the team. Once he gets his timing back in sync, his BABIP will magically go up.
Similarly, Sizemore’s BABIP is .394 not because he’s lucky, but because he’s squaring up a very high percentage of the pitches he makes contact with.
I’ve always thought the luck part of BABIP isn’t necessarily due to “balls falling in”, but more to the player exceeding (Sizemore) or not meeting (Santana) their normal level of solid contact. Sizemore’s been “lucky” because he’s exceeding his ability to square pitches up, and Santana has been “unlucky” because he’s not squaring pitches up at all.
I don’t disagree with any of this. But it doesn’t change the fact that Sizemore’s number is very likely to trend downwards, while Santana’s is likely to trend upwards.
by APV on May 2, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
There is some luck involved in squaring up, too, though.
by Jay on May 2, 2011 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
off days suck. even though the pen needs it. and hafner’s foot. and my wife from me watching the game, frankly.
I’m tempted to watch the A’s game today as a warm-up for the upcoming series but it would be nothing short of baseball gluttony.
by Seattle Tribe Fan on May 2, 2011 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I had to watch the tribe game after the fact on DVR last night because we went to the Lehigh Valley vs. Buffalo AAA game. The Iron Pigs have LGFT Ron Belliard at third and Josh Barfield at 2nd. They very nearly turned an around the horn triple play, the batter just beating the relay from Barfield. The Pigs won 7-2, which has been a rarity at home this year.
What, no Broussard?
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on May 2, 2011 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions
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